Dart Golf

'Perfect' Course Conditions Should Invite Low Numbers

Look for some low numbers in the 14th edition of the Anheuser-Busch Golf Classic.

Maybe even lower than the record 18-under-par total shot by Lanny Wadkins in 1990 and again the following year by both Kenny Knox and eventual champion Mike Hulbert.

The hot-shooting prediction is that of Tommy Highsmith, an assistant pro at the Kingsmill Golf Club for the past eight years. One big reason Highsmith is sold on low numbers is the condition of the 6,797-yard par-71 River Course.

``It's in the best shape I've ever seen it,'' said Highsmith. ``The fairways are in perfect shape and the greens are holding. It'll be a dart game for the pros.''

There have been a few subtle changes but no major renovations made to the River Course since Jim Gallagher Jr. won last year's tournament with a 15-under total of 269.

``The only changes were at No. 1 where we took out two bunkers from around the middle of the fairway on the right and then added three bunkers down the right side closer to the hole,'' said Ken Giedd, Kingsmill's director of golf landscaping.

The course still puts a premium on accuracy off the tee. ``It's also important to keep the ball in the short grass,'' said Highsmith. ``The rough is going to get high.''

Here is Highsmith's analysis of the River Course:

1 Par-4, 360 yards: Demanding tee shot to an elevated fairway. Club selection is the key on approach shot to a green that offers difficult pin positions. Good chance for a birdie.

2 Par-3, 204 yards: Requires a long iron into a two-tiered green which is heavily guarded by bunkers. Not much room for error. If wind is blowing in player's face, par is a great score.

3 Par-5, 538 yards: Long dogleg left with out of bounds, creeks and ponds on both sides of fairway. With a good drive aimed at the right fairway bunker, the long hitters can take a gamble and go for the elevated green in two. A good birdie opportunity.

4 Par-4, 437 yards: Extremely tough hole where a good drive is a must. Many pros will use a 1-iron off the tee. Creek runs along the left side. The small green is shallow and heavily guarded by bunkers. Take a par and run.

5 Par-3, 183 yards: Requires a mid-iron into a two-tiered green from an elevated tee. Players must stay clear of water hazard on right. Better to hit short and be putting uphill on fast green, where 3-putts are common. Par's a good score.

6 Par-4, 365 yards: Widest open hole on the course and probably the easiest par-4. It's a slight dogleg right with a deep but narrow undulating green.

7 Par-5, 516 yards: Requires a demanding tee shot between two large walnut trees. There's out of bounds on right and left off the tee. Green is reachable in two by long hitters. Deep ravine on left and rough could be disastrous on approach shots. Good opportunity for a birdie.

8 Par-4, 413 yards: Toughest hole on the course last year, requiring an average of 4.175 strokes. Accurate tee shot to a small landing area is a must. Pros may use a 2-iron off the tee and a 3-wood if the wind is in their face. Approach shot is difficult into a two-tiered hillside green. Putting on the severely contoured fast green is a headache. Par's a great score.

9 Par-4, 452 yards: Easy driving hole but must avoid out of bounds and trees on the left. Pin placements on the elevated green can present problems in club selection. If wind is in face of players, expect a lot of bogeys.

10 Par-4, 431 yards: Tee shot on the dogleg right hole should be aimed toward the fairway bunkers on the left, staying away from pine trees on the right. Approach shot is usually a mid-iron unless you're John Daly, who reportedly hit driver-wedge to the green when he played here. Green is the flattest on the course. Wind and pin placement can make par difficult.

11 Par-4, 396 yards: Accuracy is essential off the tee. Many players will hit irons for position. Will want to hit a full short-iron approach to put spin on the ball to hold shots on the small green. Players will have a good chance to get back a stroke they lost at 10.

12 Par-4, 395 yards: With tall trees signaling trouble on the left, tee shots - usually a 1-iron or 3-wood - should be aimed to the right center and on the flat part of the fairway for position. Split-level elevated green is faster than most holes. Pars aren't easy here.

13 Par-3, 179 yards: A mid-iron tee shot from a platform built on stilts should be hit toward the left side of green. It will roll back to the right. Hitting the ball short and to the right of the green can lead to a quick bogey or double bogey.

14 Par-4, 383 yards: The drive should be to the right side of fairway, leaving players with a short iron to an elevated flat green. Hitting the approach over the green can mean the difference between a birdie and a bogey.

15 Par-5, 506 yards: Easiest hole on the course last year, taking an average of 4.685 strokes. Ideal place for drive is left-center of fairway. Long hitters can reach the green in two, but deep ravine will penalize those falling short.

16 Par-4, 427 yards: Hit drive to the left center of fairway to avoid tall trees on right on the dogleg-right hole. You don't want to be short on approach with middle or long irons because of the severe rough around the green. If wind is blowing in face of players, it's a tough hole to par.

17 Par-3, 177 yards: Prettiest hole on the course that borders the James River. Need to stay away from the right-side hazards with a short to long iron depending on wind and pin placement. Par's a good score.

18 Par-4, 435 yards: The dogleg-left hole provides an exciting finish, with Moody's Pond awaiting stray shots on the left. Players must pay close attention to the pin placement on the multi-tiered elevated green. Undulations in the green make it a tough putting hole.